Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.
Theodore Roosevelt
The Roosevelt Family of Oyster Bay
The Family Motto: Qui Plantavit Curabit - "He Who Has Planted Will Preserve"
"I tell you, Kermit, it was great comfort to feel,
all during the last days when affairs looked doubtful,
that no matter how things came out the really
important thing was the lovely life I have with
Mother and with you children, and that compared
to this home life everything else was of very
small importance from the standpoint of happiness."
- Theodore Roosevelt, letter to Kermit, 10 November 1904
Books about
the Roosevelt Family
The Roosevelt Family of Oyster Bay : Pictures
Origins of The Roosevelt Family
In 1410, William III, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Holland and of Zeeland granted lands (amt fiefdoms) north of Tholen
to six vassal lords; amongst them was Marijnus van Rosevelt of the Oud-Vossemeer House of Amt Lords,
whose primary ancestral residence was eventually built in 1767.
Claes Maartenszen van Rosenvelt of the Oud-Vossemeer House of Amt Lords emigrated to New Amsterdam,
present day New York City, sometime between 1638 and 1649. Around 1652, Claes bought a 48 acre farm from
Lambert van Valckenburgh in present-day midtown Manhattan. In present geographical terms,
the property emcompassed everything surrounded by a square created by the intersections of
Lexington & Fifth Avenues and 29th St. & 35th St.
Claes' son Nicholas changed the spelling of the family name to Roosevelt. Nicholas was also the first Roosevelt to
hold political office as an alderman. Nicholas' children, Johannes and Jacobus, became the respective patriarchs
of the Oyster Bay and Hyde Park branches of the Roosevelt family.
Genealogy of The Oyster Bay Roosevelts
Coat of Arms
The Roosevelt coat of arms dates from the 17th century.
It contains a rosebush with three rose flowers growing upon a grassy mound.
The crest is three ostrich feathers divided into red and white halves.
In heraldic terms it is described as:
Shield:
Argent upon a grassy mound a rosebush bearing three roses gules barbed and seeded proper proper.
Crest and mantle:
Upon a torse argent and gules, Three ostrich plumes each per pale gules and argent, the mantling gules doubled argent.
Links to Other Resources
The Roosevelt Family - Complete Genealogy - 1649 thru 1902
T.R.'s Letters to his Children
Theodore Roosevelt Association
HOMES OF THE
ROOSEVELT FAMILY
Sagamore Hill
Western Ranches
Pine Knot
Bulloch Hall
Birthplace in New York City
ALICE ROOSEVELT LONGWORTH
February 12, 1884 - February 20, 1980"The Other Washington Monument"
THEODORE ROOSEVELT JR.
September 13, 1887 - July 12, 1944Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Medal of Honor Recipient
KERMIT ROOSEVELT
October 10, 1889 - June 3, 1943Captain, U.S. Army
ETHEL CAROW ROOSEVELT DERBY
August 13, 1891 - December 10, 1977
ARCHIBALD BULLOCH ROOSEVELT
April 9, 1894 - October 13, 1979Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army
QUENTIN ROOSEVELT
November 19, 1897 - July 14, 19182nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Service
EDITH KERMIT CAROW
August 6, 1861 - September 30, 194830th First Lady of the Unites States
